8 Best Cookware Reviews: Top Quality Pots and Pans For Your Kitchen

By Diana Heath

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The kitchen is called the “heart of the house”, the place where culinary delights are brought to life, but in order to cook delicious meals, you need high-quality cookware. Whether it is concocting a creamy sauce, boiling chat potatoes, steaming vegetables, frying a steak, or baking a casserole or stew, strong and sturdy pots and pans are a great investment for your home.

Our Top Pick for the Best Cookware

Our top pick for the best cookware is the All-Clad Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set. This super stylish 10-piece cookware set from All-Clad is the perfect cookware set for trying out some of those new exotic recipes you have been planning on cooking. With an uncompromising dedication to creating high-quality cookware, All-Clad offers you a sturdy collection of pots and pans that not only look beautiful but they are guaranteed to deliver a superb cooking experience.

How to Choose the Best Cookware

Whether you are buying your first cookware set or need to replace your old battered pots and pans, a brand new cookware set will make all the difference to your cooking experience. To find the best cookware for your lifestyle, you need to think about what types of food you prepare on a daily basis, from basic meals to complex three-course meals that have been inspired by top chefs on popular cooking shows. If you are a cook who likes to prepare simple meals, then you will only need a small set that contains from 5 to 8 pieces, or if you are a cooking enthusiast or you just want extra choice, there are some larger sets that contain 10, 13 or even 20 separate pieces.

Cookware sets can contain a range of pots and pans in a variety of sizes such as small saucepans and large saucepans like a stockpot, a Dutch oven, a griddle, skillets, a large fry pan, an omelet fry pan, and a casserole dish.A set usually includes the lids for the pots and sometimes even the frying pans and some manufacturers like Le Creuset or Faberware may also throw in extra utensils like spatulas or even a cookbook.

One of the most important aspects of cookware is what the pots and pans are made out of, like stainless-steel, enameled cast-iron, aluminum, anodized aluminum,or copper.

Construction

Stainless Steel

Stainlesssteel is one of the most popular types of cookware material. It is long-lasting, does not easily react with food, and it is very versatile, so it can be used for all types of cooking, and it is compatible with most ovens, even with induction cooktops. Stainless steel cookware like the All-Clad 10-piece cookware set is made out of brushed stainless steel, but other types of cookware, like the T-fal C836SC 12-piece set, has a shiny surface which will make an attractive addition to your kitchen. Stainless steel can be hard to clean if you have baked-on food so look for a set that has a non-stick surface.

Pre-seasoned Cast Iron

Some cast-iron manufacturers like Lodge, America's oldest family-owned cookware manufacturer, make their pots and pans out of uncoated cast-iron, but the surface is already pre-seasoned which adds extra flavor to your food, but you will need to pre-treat the surface now and then with oil. The downside of cast-iron is that it is very heavy and cannot be put into the dishwasher.

Enameled Cast Iron

Enamelled cast iron is extremely durable and can withstand high temperatures and can be used for a lot of different types of cooking like searing, sautéing, browning, and frying, braising, stewing, slow cooking, and roasting meat. The Le Creuset Cherry Red 20-piece Cookware Set is a great choice for cast iron cookware as it provides you with a highly efficient heat distribution and the cooking surface is coated with black enamel, which can seal in the flavor of the food. Aside from being heavy, enameled cast iron can also chip if you drop the pots or pans.

Aluminum

Cookware that is made out of aluminum is more affordable than stainless steel or cast-iron, but it is very lightweight and it is an excellent heat conductor. When you pick it up, you may think it is very flimsy, but aluminum is still very strong and durable, but it can be prone to staining and can discolor some foods and make them taste bitter. Aluminum cookware like the Faberware New Traditions 12-Piece Cookware Set is a very attractive option for any kitchen as the set has a colorful speckled exterior and a black non-stick porcelain enamel surface.

Anodized Aluminum

Hard-anodized aluminum cookware like the Circulon Premier 13-piece Cookware Set or the Calphalon 8-Piece Cookware Set, offer youexceptional value for money as the anodized aluminum is extremely durable and it is 80% harder than stainless steel, which means it will last for years. Anodized aluminum can be used in the oven and the broiler, but you cannot put the pots and pans in the dishwasher.

Copper

Cookware that is made from copper offers you that timeless classic quality with a beautiful hammered copper exterior. This type of cookware is so stunning you will you want to showcase your pots and pans to your family and friends around the dining table. Copper provides excellent heat distribution and can be used for cooking sensitive food like sauces.

You do not have to worry about the copper leaching into your food as the surface is made of stainless steel, like the Lagostina Q554SA64 Martellata 10-piece Cookware Set, which has an interior that is made from the highest grade 18/10 stainless steel. The downside of using copper is that requires a lot of maintenance to keep the surface looking great and the bottom can stain after a few cooking sessions and it cannot be put in the dishwasher.

Best Cookware Reviews

1. Lodge L5HS3 5-Piece Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Cookware Set

Proudly made in the U.S.A. the Lodge 5-piece Cast Iron Cookware Set is made from pre-seasoned strong cast iron and with a high cooking performance, ease of use and long-term durability, the Lodge cookware set is an excellent choice. The set includes a 10.5-inch round griddle, an 8-inch and a 10.25-inch skillet, a 5-Qt. Dutch oven and 10.25-inch iron cover. The griddle is an essential item for cooking big breakfasts for a large family or unexpected guests, as well as quesadillas, roasted vegetables, and grilled sandwiches. The skillet is great for sautéing, frying, stir-frying, searing and baking on the stove, while the Dutch oven is perfect for hearty winter casseroles and stews.

These “must-have” pots and pans are very versatile as they can also be used for cooking in the great outdoors, when you a grilling up at storm at the campsite.

The pre-seasoned black cast-iron surface is a huge drawcard as it adds extra flavor to your food, but you will still need to season it after each use with a bit of vegetable oil or fat. It can take a while to get used to its quirks when searing, simmering or frying, like knowing how much fat to use and the time it takes to heat up. But if you stick with it (excuse the pun) it will last for years and years, and if you take good care of it, it can last forever and be passed down as an heirloom.

The Lodge cast-iron cookware cannot be put in the dishwasher, and you should not use abrasives to clean it. The cast iron surface is not non-stick, but keep it well-seasoned and it will stay stick-resistant. If you want to fry eggs, it is best to use another fry pan that has a non-stick coating.

When you first use the cookware, you will notice that the surface of the pans feels rough but that is due to the special sand casting process that Lodge uses in manufacturing their cookware, so after a few uses and seasoning, the surface will start to become smooth. The cookware is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

2. Calphalon Simply Calphalon Hard-Anodized 8-Piece Cookware Set

For everyday cooking, from making omelets or porridge for breakfast, soup for lunch, or frying steak or sausages for dinner, the Calphalon “Simply Calphalon” Hard-Anodized 8-Piece Cookware Set is a great choice. With everything you need to cook up a storm in your kitchen, the Calphalon set has eight pieces: one 8-inch and 10-inch omelet/frying pans, two saucepans and a stockpot, and the two saucepans and stockpot have lids.

The stylish black matt cookware is made out of hard-anodized medium-gauge aluminum construction that promotes fast and even heating. and the tempered glass lids allow you to keep your eye on your food, and the lid for the 4-quart saucepan fits the 8-inch omelet pan. The specially contoured handles with stay-cool silicone accents are made of stainless steel and are dual-riveted securely to the pots and pans.

You can use the pans in the oven and they can take temperatures up to 400 degrees, and their non-stick surface is very easy to clean but you have to handwash the cookware as it cannot be washed in the dishwasher. Calphalon has been designing high-quality cookware for over 50 years and their dedication to delivering pots and pans that provide consistent cooking results means this set is guaranteed to last and is covered by a 10-year limited warranty.

With an attractive brushed stainless finish and a patented 5-ply bonded construction with alternating layers of stainless steel and conductive aluminum that creates warp-free strength and even heating and excelling in browning and searing throughout the cooking process, the All-Clad 10-piece cookware set will deliver superior cooking results as well as look beautiful in your kitchen.

The All-Clad cookware is made in the U.S.A by highly skilled metal craftsman and they have designed their pots and pans with a stainless steel non-stick cooking surface that will not react with food and is very easy to clean. The heat-resistant stainless-steel handles with bolster are permanently secured with stainless-steel rivets which give you a good firm grip, the flat stainless-steel lids fit perfectly to seal in the food's flavors and the flared rims guarantee drip-free pouring.

The cookware is safe to use in the oven and broiler, up to 600 degrees, and they are specially optimized for induction and they can be put into the dishwasher. The includes an 8-inch and 10-inch fry pan, a 1.5-quart covered saucepan, a 3-quart covered saucepan, a 3-quart covered saute pan, and an 8-quart covered stockpot, all of which are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

All-clad make a large range of cookware, with different sets: a 5-piece, 7-piece and 14-piece set and some of the sets are made of highly polished stainless steel.

Circulon is famous for extremely well-made cookware and their Circulon Premier Professional Cookware Set takes their cookware design skills up a notch by utilizing the innovative TOTAL® Food Release System. This “Hi-Low” technology gives you an exceptional cooking performance due to the unique groove pattern on the cooking surface. The pots and pans are made from extra strong heavy gauge aluminum, which allows them to heat up fast and they provide excellent heat distribution and the non-porous surface guarantees perfect cooking results.

This extremely durable 13-piece cookware set includes different sized saucepans and skillets that can be used for a large range of cooking options, and the tempered glass lids are shatter-proof. As well as featuring a very beautiful bronze exterior and extra large comfortable soft-grip silicone stainless steel handles that are double riveted for extra strength, the pots and skillets have an advanced Autograph 3-layer nonstick coating from DuPont™, which means that the food never gets stuck to the surface and you can even use metal utensils.

The cookware is suitable for all types of ovens, even induction, and is oven safe for up to 400-degrees, and when you have finished cooking, the pots and pans can go straight into the dishwasher. Although you can use metal utensils, it is best to use rubber spatulas so that your stylish pots and pans will last for year and years.

Circulon offers a limited lifetime warranty on their superb range of cookware.

5. Le Creuset Cherry Red 20-piece Cast Iron Cookware Set

This beautiful cherry red cast iron 20-piece cookware set from Le Creuset is an excellent investment for your kitchen as it combines Le Creuset's special aesthetic quality with a modern culinary technology design, which means you will soon be cooking up at a storm in style. The set includes a 10.25-inch cast iron skillet, a 1.75-quart cast iron saucepan with lid, a 4-quart rectangular stoneware dish with lid, a 4.5-quart cast iron Dutch oven with lid, a 8-quart enameled steel stockpot with lid, four 8-ounce mini round stoneware cocotte with lids, a 6-piece utensil set and a bonus 64-page Le Creuset Mini-Cocotte Softcover Cookbook to get you started on your cooking journey.

Delivering a highly efficient heat distribution, the skillet, saucepan and Dutch oven are built with strong cast iron and the cooking surface is coated with black enamel,which can seal in the flavor of the food without having to add seasoning. So whether you are creating a hearty casserole, a souffle, a winter warming soup, or frying your favorite piece of meat, you will be able to cook your culinary delights to perfection. The colorful exterior enamel will light up your kitchen and resists chipping and cracking.

Even though the pots and pans are heavier due to their cast iron construction, the handles are about 45% larger than other standard cookware sets, but they are specially designed this way to evenly distribute the weight of the pots and pans and they provide a comfortable easy grip especially when you wear oven mitts. The cookware provides very good thermal resistance for temperatures as low as 65-degrees or as high as 500-degrees, so you can store them in the freezer and use them in the broiler.

As well as the cherry red color, the collection is also available in Flame, Marseille Blue, Palm Green, and Soliel Yellow, and whichever color you choose they will look great in your kitchen and will make an excellent gift.

This stunning collection is more expensive than other similar sets, but it is exceptional value for money and Le Creuset offers a lifetime warranty.

6. T-fal C836SC Ultimate Stainless Steel 12-piece Cookware Set

T-fal have 62 years of experience in manufacturing cookware and their T-fal 12-piece Ultimate Cookware set is a testimony to their ongoing dedication to high-quality cookware that is strong and is a delight to use. The T-fal 12-piece cookware set features a contemporary design with a premium polished stainless exterior that will look great in your kitchen. The 18/10-grade non-stick multi-layered stainless steel construction and the thick gauge aluminum core with a copper disc guarantee exceptional durability and warp-resistance and a highly responsive heating system which eliminates any hotspots.

Whether it is everyday cooking or trying out a new recipe, the T-Fal set includes everything you need: an 8- and 10.25-inch fry pan, a 12-inch covered fry pan, a 1, 2 and 3-quart covered saucepan, a 5-quart covered Dutch oven and a steamer. If you are boiling potatoes to make a creamy mash, making a sauce or reheating, each saucepan has a small surface area and the sides are high and straight which makes for super fast cooking. The Dutch oven has plenty of room for casseroles and stews and there are measuring marks on the insides of the pots so that you can use the right amount of liquid for perfect cooking results.

The riveted stainless-steel handles are extra long and ergonomically designed for comfort and the glass lids have stainless-steel sturdy loop-style handles, and the vented holes in the lids allow steam escape to prevent any liquids from boiling over. You can use the cookware on any stovetop, including induction, and it’s oven safe up to 500- degrees and the pots and pans can be placed in the dishwasher.

T-fal guarantees a long term cooking performance for all their cookware, but they provide a few tips to keep your pans looking great and continuing to deliver optimal cooking results. Preheat your pan before adding oil or butter. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of oil or butter to maximize browning and minimize sticking. Overheating can cause brown or blue stains to appear, and large amounts of iron content in your water may cause your pan to look rusty. For extra peace of mind, T-fal offers a limited lifetime warranty on the cookware set.

Add a bit of color to your kitchen with the stylish red speckled Faberware New Traditions 12-piece Cookware Set. This attractive cookware set is so stunning you will want to show off the pots and pans at your dining table, and the Faberware name is such a trusted brand in the cookware industry, you can rely on their cookware to deliver superb cooking results. Faberware has included everything you need to make an omelet, delicious sauces or gravies, fry a thick-cut rump steak or prepare a hearty stew.

The set includes 1-qt. and 2-qt. covered saucepans, a 3-qt. sauté pan, a 5-qt. covered Dutch oven, and 3/4-inch and 1/4-inch skillets, which are made from high-quality aluminum construction and feature a red speckled exterior, and the black non-stick porcelain enamel surface make it easy to remove your food. There are also three Prestige® nylon kitchen utensils that are included in the set: a slotted turner, slotted spoon, and a solid spoon. The rubberized handles match the pans' colors, and they are very comfortable to use, and the shatter-resistant glass lids seal in heat and moisture while you monitor the progress of your latest culinary creation.

For quick and easy access to your cookware, the handles have a hole on the end you that you can hang them up above your kitchen bench. The only downside of this beautiful cookware is that it is not dishwasher-safe, so you have to wash the items by hand. The cookware is also available in Lavender Sparkle and is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

If you love the look of copper, check out this stunningly beautiful 10-piece Copper Cookware Set from Lagostina. This beautiful cookware will not only look fabulous on your cooktop, but it delivers exceptional cooking results. The 10-piece set includes an 8- and 10-inch skillet, a 2-qt. saucepan with lid, a 3-qt. saucepan with lid, a 3-qt. deep sauté pan with lid and a 6-qt. stockpot. As well as the hammered copper exterior, the cookware has a thermally efficient aluminum core, and the highest-grade 18/10 stainless steel interior enhances heat conductivity for even cooking results, and the stainless steel interior will not react with your food.

The highly polished stainless steel lids fit securely onto the pots and help to prevent any heat or moisture from escaping and the sturdy cast stainless steel “stay-cool” handles are securely riveted and comfortable to use. The flared edges on the cookware allow you to cook to your heart's content without having to worry about any drips when your food is ready to be served. If you want to hang the pots and pan up above your kitchen counter, not only for quick and easy access but to create a classic heritage feel in your cooking area, there are holes in the end of the handles.

The cookware is compatible with most stove types and broilers, except induction stoves, and you can use them in the oven up to 500-degrees. The pots cannot be put into the dishwasher and have to be washed by hand. Lagostina offers a limited lifetime warranty and you can also purchase additional cookware pieces separately.

Visit theLagostina website for some tips on how to maintain your cookware's beautiful copper appearance.

Our Top Pick for the Best Cookware

Our top pick for the best cookware is the All-Clad Brushed Stainless Steel Cookware Set. This super stylish 10-piece cookware set from All-Clad is the perfect cookware set for trying out some of those new exotic recipes you have been planning on cooking. With an uncompromising dedication to creating high-quality cookware, All-Clad offers you a sturdy collection of pots and pans that not only look beautiful but they are guaranteed to deliver a superb cooking experience.